Keep this up and Crystal Palace’s European adventure could end in yet more silverware for Oliver Glasner. Four years ago it was Daichi Kamada who scored the winning goal for Glasner’s Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against West Ham on their way to lifting the trophy. The Japan midfielder again provided the crucial moment here before setting up the substitute Jørgen Strand Larsen to ensure Palace will head into next week’s second leg with a two-goal advantage.
With all his experience, Glasner will know that this tie is not over after a vibrant Shakhtar Donetsk side stuffed with attacking Brazilian flair caused them plenty of problems. Ismaïla Sarr’s opener after just 21 seconds was the fastest goal in Conference League history and the Senegal forward now has eight in 11 appearances so far in this competition.
But it was Kamada, who is out of contract at the end of the season and received a standing ovation from the away fans when he was taken off, that stole the show. All the signs are that he will follow Glasner in leaving at the end of the season, although perhaps qualifying for the Europa League that would be the result of winning this competition after being controversially demoted could be enough to persuade him to stay.
